37 - Pieces of the Broken Glass Slipper
Shattered Glass Slipper Shards Episode 37
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“Um, well, the head maid told me to report if the young lady acted strangely… I swear to God, I've never said anything about you. Really. Please believe me.”
It was fear. Pure fear. You were scared enough to break your stubbornness, which was so full of malice.
I couldn't hold back and burst into laughter. Seril's desperate excuses, as if fearing the same punishment as before, were tinged with a pathetic helplessness.
He hunched forward as if about to kneel, clasping his hands and begging profusely, an unspeakable desperation radiating from him. Seeing that, I was certain.
I had finally broken that woman who had mocked me, Seril, and spat on me.
I had won. Yes, I had finally grasped that utterly despicable woman in these two hands. Even Seril, who harbored malice, was powerless before the fear of death.
The Capsa, where only a sliver of light seeped in, was enough to deeply engrave the word 'fear' into her heart. This would remain an indelible scar, tormenting her forever.
“I understand. You couldn't help it. In fact, I don't care. No matter what you say. What is there to hide? But if it concerns ‘Marie,’ then it’s different.”
“Yes, yes. Y-you are absolutely right, a thousand times over. I know nothing.”
“But it seems a little unfair, don't you think?”
“Huh? Yes. That’s right. It’s unfair.”
“It’s truly sad. I want to get along with everyone, but people around me won't leave me alone. Seril, would you go tell Margo for me? Tell her that Cishe de Bishwaltz, that foolish girl, is jealous of young lady Roena and is upset. Tell her she's acting wildly like a madwoman. Then she will be greatly intrigued and praise you.”
“Young lady?”
Seril rolled his eyes, asking back with a look of bewilderment. As if asking what I was talking about.
“And you can just tell me what Margo said in return.”
I said, looking at Seril.
“It’s quite simple, isn't it?”
\\
After receiving an apology from Madame de Lavalier, Mother's pride had risen a notch. Although she had help from my stepfather, regardless of the outcome, she seemed to have lost her senses momentarily, thinking she had defeated the woman who had humiliated her. Otherwise, there would be no reason to bring Perinnil back.
I felt a headache coming on from my mother's actions, looking at me with a triumphant smile. I knew she felt defeated by Lavalliere, but there was no need to provoke her like this.
Most importantly, I was only 16 years old. I couldn't understand why Mother was so impatient and rushed.
In any case, it was true that Mother's actions had pushed Lavalliere's displeasure to its peak. She didn't show her face at lunch and declared her absence from the lesson I was supposed to attend with her.
According to Marie, she had drawn all the curtains in her room and was only drinking hot tea. It seemed to be her way of calming her churning stomach.
If she were to summon Mother again for a lecture, it would be an insult to my stepfather, the master of this mansion. So, it was better to stay locked in her room with her eyes tightly shut. This was the utmost patience she could show.
As the maids drew long curtains over the bed and laid down silk sheets, I approached my mother and asked quietly.
“Mother. I am still young. Why were you in such a hurry?”
“Sis. You must be educated by the best. By someone real, like Perinnil.”
“That’s not what I asked. Please tell me the truth.”
Mother turned her head sideways, avoiding my gaze. Through her trembling eyelashes, I saw her lips pressed together, and I realized her actions were more than just a simple ‘whim.’ I felt a sigh escape me.
“You haven't forgotten, have you? Who is teaching me right now.”
“Child. I, well, I really, that really…”
“I know. Why wouldn't I? Actually, I'm even a little happy. Because I want you to be someone confident with everyone. But Mother…”
I took her hand and whispered softly.
“Can't you think of me just a little more?”
Your hand in mine held a great tremor. Perhaps you were imagining me suffering because of you. I clicked my tongue lowly and let go of the hand holding my mother.
In fact, if it were my past self, I would have been greatly pleased and moved by my mother's actions. No, I might have even teared up, saying you were the only one who cared for me.
But now that I have returned, everything must be approached with caution. That is why, even knowing it's unreasonable to expect Mother to have the same foresight as Lavalliere, I often reveal my true feelings like this. Though I am clearly more foolish than my mother.
Perhaps I am the one who is impatient. I gently patted the back of my mother's hand. It was a signal we used to use when living on the streets, a way to say sorry when it was difficult to speak the words.
Perinnil asked the maids for help and drew all the curtains on the window. Then she instructed them to prepare a silver basin filled with water with floating flower petals, three or four cloths, and a bottle of fragrant oil.
As if she had no shame, she wore a chemise, revealing her ample cleavage. Every time she moved, a strong perfume like a tail wafted out. Those who stiffened and turned away at the sight were only Roena and the maids.
It was quite unexpected that Roena had appeared for this kind of education. Considering her usual demeanor, I couldn't even imagine how she had received permission from Madame de Lavalier.
Roena was terrified, as if looking at something scary and disgusting. The hand holding her handkerchief was pale, her blue veins standing out. Her lips trembled with fear, and small beads of sweat formed on her forehead, as smooth as white satin.
Even the angelic Roena couldn't help but show blatant emotions of shock and contempt in her slightly furrowed eyes when faced with a prostitute.
But she didn't run away. She didn't scream or faint. She just looked at me, fidgeting and glancing nervously.
When Perinnil climbed onto the prepared bed, Roena and I sat on chairs placed in front of the bed.
The silhouette of Perinnil, glimpsed through the long drawn curtains, had a suggestive feel from the start.
She lay down like a cat and yawned softly. Her breasts, pressed against the bed, bulged provocatively. Her bright red lips contrasted with the white sheets, dazzling the eyes.
“Forgive my rudeness. I was not educated, so I don't know how to observe any etiquette. I only know about the pleasures between men and women.”
She grabbed her hair covering her nape and twirled it. Her body remained lying on the bed. Everyone except me blushed crimson at her impudence.
Among them, the reaction of the maids Roena brought was the most intense. They looked as if they would grab Perinnil and slam her onto the floor if Roena gave them permission.
“I am called a Cat of Pleasure. A little darling who brings joy to men.”
Perinnil sat up and beckoned to a small girl she had brought. The girl, whose face was gaunt and bony, began to undress her as Perinnil instructed. She seemed to have been serving Perinnil for a long time, as her movements in undressing and tidying were exceptionally swift.
Soon, her pale and voluptuous body was revealed. Her flesh, as white as milk and seemingly as soft as silk, flowed smoothly in gentle curves. Among them, her nipples, blooming red like a flower dot, were the most striking.
“Most young ladies usually start by looking at the naked body. Something like, 'What does a body that bewitches men look like?' Well, how is it?”
She seemed to know well how to appear most alluring. The way she gathered her hair with both hands and the gesture of sticking out her tongue to moisten her lips were not only suggestive but also coquettish. At the same time, she was composed. One could hardly call her a prostitute standing before a noble lady.
“After getting used to the breasts, you look below. The body of a true woman! This is until you no longer feel ashamed even when looking at someone else's naked body. Hmm, it's a bit of a tedious process. That's why some people demand bold actions from the start. What do you ladies think? I am already fully prepared.”
Perinnil hugged her chest and smiled faintly. Then, she did something that a naive young lady would flee in panic, without hesitation.
I felt like laughing at her provocation but held it back. Roena beside me was gasping as if she would faint, so I decided to play the part of a naive young lady.
Then, Perinnil walked forward with a smile all over her face. A half-naked woman, her chest fully exposed, wearing only a slip, then let out a small purr like a rutting animal and crawled on the floor. As she swayed her hips and crawled, her flushed cheeks and dazed eyes evoked strange fantasies. She was now approaching Roena.
In a fleeting moment, Perinnil reached Roena's knees and rubbed her cheek against Roena's hand, whispering softly. As if dealing with a man overcome by lust, or a guest who doted on her.
“Now, give me an order. Hurry. Oh, but don't be too embarrassed, my lovely one. Everyone goes through this.”
It was at that moment that Roena stood up. Her face was deathly pale, her body trembling, and she backed away frantically. Tears filled her wide-open eyes.
“How dare you! Don't touch me! This is really not right. Not right at all!!”
“Oh? What do you mean?”
Perinnil reached out and grabbed Roena's hand. Then she brought her hand to her own chest, and the entire sequence was so fluid that even I couldn't fully grasp what was happening. Only Perinnil smiled strangely and whispered lowly.
“You mean something like this?”
Slap.*
Her head snapped to the side. Her cheek, bearing a clear handprint, was swollen to a pathetic degree.
Roena hastily hid her hand. She seemed very flustered, backing away a few more steps and shaking her head wildly. From her slightly parted lips, the words "I didn't mean to..." kept flowing out.
But what everyone saw was not Roena's excuse, but the hot tears that flowed incessantly.
My mother, who had been watching all this, approached with hurried steps, looking flustered, and embraced Roena's shoulders. She began to comfort her, and Roena, sobbing in her mother's arms, left the room.
